Sprinkler system



March 17, 17,931.- F. M'. PGTTENGER, JR 1,196,941

I y -SPRINKLER SYSTEM Filed May 3l, 1928 Patented ai'. 17, 1931 PATENT .oFFlc i ners im. romaitalia, Jn.,

SPRINKLER SYSTEM Application filed Hey 81, 1928. er'ial No. 231,624.

'ihisinvention 'pertains to sprinkling systems for lawns, or otherlvegetation, and is particularly a plicable to systems in which s rinkler hea s are utilized in fixed posit5 tions and arranged to sprinkle areas of definite size and shape. In its broader aspects it is similar to my invention shown and described in two co-pendin applications, Serial No. 281,623, filed iav- 31, 1928, and

i@ serial No. 281,625, filed May 31, 192e, an

though in the instant case 'the specific means for accomplishing my purposes is dierent from either of these.

\ The principal object of my invention is 15de provide a'means operable in connection with a system of sprinklersiand a supply of denite head and pressure, whereby the volume and pressure of the water supplied to the sprinklers may be alternately increased 2U# and diminished to edect its even didusion over the entire areas.

li have conceived and perfected this invention particularly for use in connection with spria er heads like, or similar to, that shown 25 and described in my co-pending application .led March 9th, 1923, Serial No. 623,960; al-

` though it is to 'be understood that it may be utilized in connection with other Ytypes of sprinkler heads where applicable.

3@ Sprinkler heads, like that shown in my aforesaid co-pending application, have been devid orsprinkling areas of definite size land shape and these have been found very eective; but in many casesthey are pri- 'l marily arranged -for sprinkling only the f outer portions of the areas without any par# -ticiilar regard for sprinkling the portions adjacent the sprinkler head, except as this may be accomplished by the light spray or drops falling from the streams directed to the' outer portions; 'or if they are arranged to indiscriminately direct streams to dierent portions of the area, these always tall in sube stantiall the same place.

As it is always a desivderatum to conserve o water .piy and minimize the amount used for spri l1.; lawns, and thelike, and at the e time provide an adequate irrigation, it is in foremost obj ect to provide this means Where y an. equal and adequate distribution through one form of mechanism I have deand l2 a discharge pipe connected, as by of water over any\ articular area may be effectively accomplis ed with a minimum of waste. My present invention accomplishes]` this ina very eicient manner and is adapt# able to all sprinklin or irrigating systems 55 and may be adapte to water supplies of various heads and pressures.

The salient features vof my invention are more fully set forth in the following. specif/ cation, reference being made therein to the accompanying drawings for lpurposes of illustiation.

In these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vdiagraiuniatic view showing the use of my invention in connection with a lawn sprinkling system; v

Fig, 2 is a diagrammatic view illustrating h ow a variable current accomplishes the en-V tire sprinkling of a. definite area; and

Fig. 3' is an enlarged sectional -view signed for eecting a variable current in connection with a water vsupply of definite head and pressure.

Referring now to these drawings the nuineral 10 designates generally my improved variable control means; 11 indicates a water supply pipe connected to the mechanism l() means of laterals 13 and 1i, to any number of sprinkler heads 15. While heads i5 of any t e may be utilized in this system, it may, or the purpose of disclosing the principles of my invention,

be assumed that these are of a 'type similar 35 to that shown in my aforementioned co nding applications for sprinkling areas o definite size and shape. With sprinkler heads of this type ordinarily the .outer portions of the areas get the most water whi'iethose por- 90 tions adjacent the sprinkler head get the least; consequently, either the outer portions get too much water or the inner portions do not get enough, within a ven 'period of time, unless some meansis dgelvised for vary- 95' ing the force of the Water su ply and thereby altering the trajectories' o the streams 'to' throw them to points atdiferentdistances fram the we This i? @ammette bythe mech 10, 19

CFI

Referring now particularly to Fig. 3 the numeral 16 designates generally' a housing containing the mechanism by which I vary the pressure and amount of waterdelivered to the sprinklers 15. For convenience and economy of manufacture I show this to be made in two parts, viz., a lower portion or base 17 and a cylinder 18 mounted thereon, and secured in place as by means of screws 19 extending through complementaryvflanges 20 and 21; however, the entire housin 16 may be made in the form of a single cy inder, if desired. The upper end of the cylinder 18 is closed by removable cap 22, which is preferably` secured in place by a screw threaded connectlon betweenflange 23 and the cylinder wall. F langes 24 and 25 may be provided on the. cap and cylinder, respectively, between which a asket 26 maybe placed to insure a water tig t connection.

An inlet port 27 is placed in the wall of the base 17 into which a water supply pipe -28 is secured,preferab1y by a screw threaded connection; and an outlet port 29 is also arrangedin its bottom, preferably co-aXial with the cylinder 18, and into which a discharge pipe 30 is likewise secured.

A flange 31 surrounds the outlet ort 29 and extends a short distance inward y from the wall of the base, u on which a-valve 32 seats. This valve may Ee of any ofthe usual constructions, consisting of a metal plate or disk 33mounted upon astem 34 which eX.- tends-into the cylinder 18. If desired' this valve may have a facing 35, of leath'er or the like, and the two retained in place on the screw threaded end 36, ofthe stem 34, by

vmeans of va nut 37. yThe valve 32 is held normally seated upon the ange or seat 31 by the action of ah eXpansile helical spring 38, confined between the plate 33 and a transversely disposedl partition 39. The partition 39 not only serves this purpose but also provides a,

guide bearing 40 for the stem 34 and also acts as a stop for a piston 41 in cylinder 18. Apertures 42 arearranged in the partition 39 so that water may freely passfrom the chamv ber 43, inthe base 17, into the piston chamber 44 to attuate the piston 41.

Piston-41 consistsof a plate or disk 45'hayingv a central tubular bearing portion 46y bored vout to slide freely upon the valve stem. 34. Cup shaped packing washers 47, of leather or similar material, aresecured on opposite faces of the disk 45 by means of plates 48 and 49, the former retained by a tubular guide member-50 screw threadedly joined to the upper end of the bearing 46 and the latter by a nut 51 similarly secured on itslower end.'

The guide member 50 slidably engages in a guide sleeve 52, preferably formed integral with and depending `from the cap' 22; this sleeve having a small orice 53 therein, adja cent its top, to' permit `free axlal movement v in Fig. 3,

ofthe member 50 therein. A collar or washer 54 is adjustably secured on the upper end of the stem 34-as by means of locknuts 55- which is engaged by the upper end of the bearing 46 upon upwardA movement of the piston 41. The washer 54 is preferably normally spaced from the upper end of the bearing portion 46, when the piston Iis in its lowermost position, as illustrated. Ihe piston 41 is normally held downward, in its position adjacent the partition 39, by the action of an expansile splral spring 56, conned between its upper face and cap 22.

A by-pass 57 connects at one end to the cylinder 18, through a port 58 placed above the Auppermost position to which the plston 41 moves, and at its lower end, through a port 59, to the outlet'port 31, below the valve seat.

Or, if desired, it may be connected to the discharge pipe 30. An adjusting screw 60 is provided in the port 59, in the orm of a needle valve, which regulates the passage of water through the by-pass.

In the operation of this device the parts are always normally inthe positions illustrated with the piston 41 held downwardly against the partition 39. by the action of spring 56, and the valve 32 held` seated over the port 29 by the action'of sprlng 38. Water supplied under pressure from an suitable source enters the chamber 43 throug the supply pipe 28van'd port 27, illing it and passing through the apertures 42 to contact w1th the piston 41. This raises the pistony against the action of spring 56, which, after traveling a short distance, raises the valve 32 oif its seat, against the action ofspring 38, by the upper end of the bearing 46 engaging the washer 54 Aon stem 34. This permits the water to pass outwardly throu h port 29 and pipe 30 to the sprinklers 15. s soon as the line to the sprinklers is filled the pressure therein backslup until it is the same as that of the supply its seat and diminishes the supply of water entering the'discharge pipe 30, the pressure therein is reducedYwhich correspondingly reduces the pressure inl cylinder 18 through the by-pass 57. As the pressure in chamber 43 will then overbalanceA the pressure in cylinder 18.the piston 41v will Abe again raised against the-action of its spring 56,' opening the valve 32 wider and again supplying the full pressure to pipe 30. From this it will f be seen that as long as there is lwater pressure .on the supply pipe28, the valve32 will never be entirely closed or seated, and that the alternate increase vand decrease ofpressure'` in the cylinder 18 will cause a variable-current to be supplied to the pipe 30. This has the effeet of sprinkling the area as illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 2. That is, when the valve 32 is full open the water pressure of supply pipe 28 is supplied to pipe 30 which will cause the water to be thrown to the outermost portions of the area, as illustrated by the lines A, and as it is decreased by the action of this device the trajectories 'of the streams will fall correspondingly closer to the heads 15, as designated by the lines B. This results in an even dispersion of water over the entire area.

When the water is first turned on and enters the chamber 43 through pipe 28, the pressure in the chamber builds up to that of the line 28, which eiii'ects an upward movement of piston 41 and which then opens valve 32.

It can be readily seen that as soon as valve 32 opens the pressure in chamber 43 will beimmediately reduced, owing to the discharge of water through the port 29, which will irst result in a partial closure of the valve, but Will not entirely close it. Just as soon as the pipe 30 is filled the action of the device will be even and smooth and will result in supplying the variable current to pipe 30 alternately increasing and decreasing in pressure to effect the desired result.

In this preferred form .I have made the connection between valve 32 and piston 41 adjustable, by means of the nuts 55 and washer 54 on the upper screw threaded end of stem 34, so the distance which valve 32 will be raised may be varied to suit particular. circumstances. I have also spaced the washer 54 a short distance above'the upper end of bearing 46, when the piston 41 is in its normal inoperative position, to permit piston 41 to get away from the partition 39, or any stop, provided, before having any action on the valve 32. This provides a certain flexibility and conduces to even and smooth operation of the device. p Y

While'the above described mechanism is my preferred form certain of the parts may be eliminated if desired and the device urther simplified. For instance, it may consist of a single cylinder in which the piston 41 is slidably mounted and rigidly connected to the valve 32, these two members being held in position to normally seat the valveg-,by the action of a single spring such aslif" Springs 38 and56 are provided to insure proper action of piston 41 and valve 32, but these may be dispensed with vand these members actuated onlyl by the water pressure and gravity,

without departing from the spirit of my invention. In this connection I may state I reserve the right to make such other changes or modifications in structure as willbe permissible within the scope of theappended claims.

Having described a invention, I claim:

preferred form of my 1. A device of the character described, comprising a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, inlet and outlet ports in the cylinder positioned on one side of the piston, a valve for the outlet port, an operative connection between said valve and piston, means to yieldingly hold the valve normally closed, means to yieldingly hold the piston towards the inlet port so the iuid pressure on the port side of the piston will cause it to open the `valve against the action of said springs, and a passage connecting the outlet outside the valve with the cylinder on the opposite side of the piston.

2. A device of the character described, comprising a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, an inlet port in thecylinder always open to a source of fluid pressure, an outlet port in the cylinder on the same side of the piston as the inlet port, a discharge pipe connected to the outlet port, a valve for the outlet port, having a stem slidably extending through the piston, a spring for holding the valve seated, a spring for holding the piston towards the valve and inlet port, a collar on the end `of the valve stem, normally spaced from the piston and adapted to be engaged thereby to open the valve, and a passage connecting the discharge pipe with the cylinder on the .opposite side of the piston.

3. A device of the character described, comprising a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, inletand outlet ports in the cylinder on one side of the piston, a valve for the outlet port, means to limit movement of the piston towards the outlet port, means to yieldingly hold said piston against said limiting means, means to yieldingly hold said outlet port valve seated, a passage connecting the cylinder above the valvewith the outlet port, and a delayed movement lifting connection between the outlet valve and the piston.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 13th day of October, 1924.

FRANCIS M. POTTENGER, JR. 

